The aftermath

Last night, as promised, we went to see The Hip live in NYC.  I must be getting old, because my ears are still ringing this morning.

We arrived at the Nokia theatre and made our way down to the floor just as the lights dimmed and the band strolled onto the stage, and with such impeccable timing I was pretty sure we were in for a great night.  To my surprise, they kicked off the evening with “The Depression Suite”, a 9-minute compilation from their new album which, like most everything the Hip plays, is a good song made ten times better when it’s played live.  (See also “Poets“.)

From there, the evening took off like a rocket.  I spent most of the show just grinning from ear to ear.  Because of the small venue, we started the evening about 30 feet from the stage, and after the first intermission had worked our way up to within 15 feet of where Gord was putting on his performance.  I had never been that close to them before, and being able to see the expressions on Gord’s face as he launched around the stage and performed a series of mini-dramas was an incredible experience.

For much of the performance, I was hoping I could catch his eye just so that he could see I was having the time of my life.  During the last few songs of the show, I’m convinced that Gord saw me and held my gaze for a few moments as the concert roared on around us.

Even Elizabeth, who is not necessarily a huge fan, seemed to be having a great time.  Perhaps that was just for my benefit, but either way it made me very happy.

They played many of the songs I was really hoping they’d play.  Some, I was quite confident we’d hear (“The Last Recluse“), some I was hopeful we’d hear but not certain (“Courage” and Elizabeth’s favourite “Bobcaygeon“), and some that I really didn’t think we had the slightest chance of hearing (“The Drop-off“).

If there was one thing I’d change, it would be stand further away from a cluster of drunken gibbons who, convinced it was still 1995, started crowd surfing and trying to mosh near the end.

For most of the show, though, it was just a crowd full of people who were pouring forth enthusiasm for the Hip, and the Hip poured it right back.  It was Canadians being Canadian, and it was the best concert I have been to in my life.

photo credit: radiobread